UAE Prez Aide Terms Cockpit Attack Terrorist Act
“The Indian pilot in flydubai, Smit Machchhar, deserves every bit of appreciation": Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
NEW DELHI: A senior adviser to the UAE President has described the attack aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 as a “dangerous terrorist act”, as he praised Indian pilot Capt. Smit Machchhar for his courage in preventing a potential catastrophe.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said Capt. Machchhar deserved “every bit of appreciation” for his actions during the cockpit attack on the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.
“The Indian pilot in flydubai, Smit Machchhar, deserves every bit of appreciation, for he embodied the meaning of courage and responsibility in the face of a dangerous terrorist act and a potential disaster,” Gargash said in a post on X.
He described Capt. Machchhar as a “true hero”, saying his professionalism and sense of responsibility had come through under the most difficult circumstances.
Gargash also cautioned against simplistic interpretations of the incident and the spread of conspiracy theories, saying vigilance remained essential in confronting extremism and terrorism.
His remarks mark a significant public characterisation of the incident by a senior Emirati official. The UAE authorities had earlier ordered a special investigation to determine, among other things, whether the attack involved “any terrorist activity or purpose”, prior planning or outside direction.
Capt. Machchhar was operating flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv when he was allegedly attacked inside the cockpit by his co-pilot, identified by Israeli authorities as an Omani national.
Despite suffering serious injuries, Capt. Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing others on board to intervene. The aircraft was subsequently stabilised and diverted to Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi authorities said preliminary investigations by Saudi and UAE officials indicated that the co-pilot had assaulted the captain. The incident is being investigated by the authorities concerned, with Oman also assisting efforts to establish the motive.
Capt. Machchhar was later transferred to Abu Dhabi for further treatment.
Gargash’s remarks came as Capt. Machchhar received widespread praise for his actions aboard the aircraft, with the UAE presidential adviser saying the Indian pilot’s courage and professionalism had helped avert a potential disaster.
